hyderabad: On Thursday, the final day of submitting nominations, the Congress nominated senior chief Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Revanth Reddy authorities advisor Vem Narender Reddy to the Rajya Sabha from Telangana.
The Election Fee of India has notified that elections to the 2 Rajya Sabha seats, which fell vacant after Abhishek Manu Singhvi and KR Suresh Reddy accomplished their phrases on April 9, will probably be held in Telangana on March 16.
There was hypothesis that Okay. Chandrashekhar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) would area a candidate to press forward with the election marketing campaign, however on the time of submitting this report, no BRS consultant had submitted their nomination forward of the returning officer within the Telangana Meeting. This may pave the way in which for 2 parliamentary candidates to be elected unopposed.
If Singhvi is re-elected from Telangana, will probably be the chief’s fifth time period as a senator. In the meantime, this would be the first time period as RS for Vemu Narender Reddy, Revanth Reddy’s long-time good friend and political affiliate since his Telugu Desam Celebration (TDP) days. Congress sources stated it was pure for Singhvi to stake a declare for the submit, however practically 15 get together leaders had expressed curiosity in different seats.
Vemu Narender Reddy has emerged because the Rajya Sabha candidate, additionally beating Telangana All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan. “Revanth Reddy satisfied Gandhi and the Congress management that one of many two seats can be crammed by a candidate of his selection,” a former MLA and get together official instructed ThePrint on situation of anonymity.
two women
The connection between the CM and his present advisor goes again greater than three a long time, to when the 2 have been political apprentices below TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Revanth Reddy first represented Kodangarh seat as an MLA in 2009. Narender Reddy had been elected from Mahbubabad seat in early 2004.
Through the years, the 2 taught one another concerning the methods of energy, and Revanth Reddy grew to become the TDP’s working president in Telangana in 2014 after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Each remained with the TDP till it hit a political storm in 2015.
Within the 2015 ‘money for polls’ case in Telangana, the state anti-corruption bureau carried out a sting operation and arrested Revanth Reddy, then TDP MLA, for allegedly handing over Rs 5 million to MLA-designate Elvis Stevenson. The company stated the cost was half of a bigger Rs 5,000-crore deal to safe Mr Stevenson’s votes in help of the then TDP-BJP candidate Bem Narender Reddy within the Telangana Legislative Council polls.
Revanth Reddy was arrested throughout the operation and was saved in judicial custody for a number of weeks earlier than being granted bail. Investigators have additionally launched a probe into Vem Narender Reddy’s alleged involvement in bribery actions.
The incident escalated politically after a tv station aired a recording of a phone dialog during which Andhra state CM Naidu allegedly instructed Stevenson that he would “hold all my guarantees.” The recording aroused suspicions of Naidu’s involvement by the then KCR Telangana authorities, however Naidu denied the allegations whereas questioning the authenticity of the audio. In the meantime, the 2 women have been expelled from the TDP because it sought to distance itself from the incident.
This case continues to be in litigation. Though the cost in opposition to one of many accused was later quashed by the Supreme Court docket citing lack of proof, Revanth Reddy challenged the FIR. His legal professionals argued that the ACB entice was unlawful and that the corruption legal guidelines in power on the time didn’t apply to bribery suspects.
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parliamentary time period
Two years later, in 2017, Revanth Reddy joined the Congress, adopted by his shut aide Narender Reddy. As time handed, their rising affect over the get together grew to become apparent to everybody. When Revanth Reddy grew to become the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chairman and steered the get together into the 2023 meeting elections, planning committee member Vem Narender Reddy was appointed vice chairman and answerable for the get together’s political affairs and publicity.
Nevertheless, their proximity and affect in a number of appointments to necessary posts reportedly intimidated many veteran Congress leaders and Vemu Narender Reddy’s bid for the MLA ticket was blocked, senior Congress leaders instructed ThePrint. However, Narender Reddy labored behind the scenes, elevating funds for the get together, brokering peace between numerous caste factions throughout the Congress, and performing as Revanth Reddy’s consultant to Congress leaders from different states discussing get together points.
“Revanth Reddy’s rise because the chief minister has solely introduced the 2 nearer collectively. They’re like YS Rajasehara Reddy and vice-president KVP’s Ramachandra Rao. Regardless of all inner opposition, Revanth knew that he might create a good area for Narender Reddy if he grew to become the CM,” Congress working chairman, who has held get together posts below three former Congress CMs, instructed ThePrint.
completely different personalities
Inside a month of taking cost as Telangana CM in December 2023, Narender Reddy was made one of many three advisors to the CM and was given a ministerial standing. He sits proper subsequent to the CM in each cupboard assembly, with the chief secretary relegated to the seat subsequent to him.
“He’s an invisible CM. Individuals from all walks of life are queuing up exterior his home from 7.30am in search of his intervention,” stated a former Congress MLA. Many get together insiders declare that Narender Reddy has the ultimate say as Revanth Reddy depends closely on his opinion.
However those that know Vemu Narender Reddy converse of how completely different the personalities of those two associates are.
Revanth Reddy’s high-decibel speech and aggression are in stark distinction to Narender Reddy’s virtually Zen-like calm. His nomination as a Rajya Sabha member is broadly seen as an indication of his power throughout the get together in each Telangana and Delhi, as there aren’t any allegations of non-public corruption and he by no means meant to outdo his associates.
After being nominated to Rajya Sabha, Mr. Vem Narender Reddy spoke at Gandhi Bhawan in Hyderabad. Expressing his gratitude to Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in addition to senior Congress leaders, he stated, “I’m grateful to the Chief Minister for nominating me. I will probably be proactive in elevating necessary points concerning Telangana and securing mandatory funds for numerous growth initiatives.”
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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